The latest and greatest green movement isn't demanding that you sell your car, overhaul your lifestyle or move into the wilderness to live off the land.

Instead, Earth Hour is requesting a small, manageable commitment from those who participate -- asking simply that you flick a switch and turn out the lights for one short hour on March 29 as others around the world do the same thing.

And perhaps because of the sheer simplicity of the concept, people everywhere are signing up to flick-off, creating a grassroots, groundswell movement that has the potential to make a measurable difference in global power consumption.

The event was launched last year in Sydney, Australia, where an estimated 60,000 households and close to 2,000 businesses and offices dimmed down for the event -- resulting in a 10.2 per cent reduction in energy demand, or the Aussie equivalent of taking 48,000 cars off the road for the one-hour window.

This year the event has expanded far beyond Australia's borders. So far, 17 major cities in seven countries have added their names to the list, along with countless businesses, groups and individuals.

A whopping 70 per cent of Canadians say they plan to participate in Earth Hour, and cities and corporations are also getting on board.

In Toronto, the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, Canada Life building, City Hall and even the iconic CN Tower are just a few of the structures that will be going dark between 8 and 9 p.m., and a big downtown party will include a performance by Nelly Furtado. 

Vancouver will also be powering down, with all City, BC Hydro and Vancity buildings shutting down for Earth Hour.

Initiatives are also underway in Montreal, Edmonton, Halifax and St. John's, and many small and large communities in between.

But at the root of Earth Hour, says "Ecoholic" author Adria Vasil, are the real people who want to reduce their environmental footprint, and believe that something as simple as turning the lights off for an hour can make a difference.

"Earth Hour gets its power from the grassroots and from more of a bottom-up approach," Vasil tells CTV.ca.

"As people start getting excited about this across the country, that's when you start seeing corporations jump on and not the other way around."

Rather than just powering down for one hour, Vasil is in the midst of her own "Earth Week" at home, living without electricity for a full seven days -- cooking raw food, using hand-crank flashlights and candles and the other day, washing her hair in a bucket.

The advocate for all things green offered up a few tips and suggestions for those looking to mark Earth Hour.

• Raw dinner options: Whether you're hosting a dinner party or having a quiet night in, why not try 'cooking' a tasty raw-food dinner? Barbecuing is also an option, or you could dust off the old Coleman stove. But to really minimize your impact, Vasil says, raw-food is your best option. And if you're free for a few hours in the afternoon, what about trying out solar cooking?

• Mood lighting: Candles are a great way to set the mood and shine some light on the situation. But make sure they're beeswax candles. Parafin candles, by comparison, are made from petroleum products and release harmful fumes. And make sure your candles don't use lead wicks -- which can actually release dangerous pollutants into your home.

• Self-powered lighting: You're probably going to require some form of lighting during the evening, and hand-crank flashlights or lanterns are a great option. Mountain Equipment Co-op is just one outdoor goods store that sells a variety of these devices for between $10 and $30.

• Green tunes: If you're having a party to mark Earth Hour, crank-up radios are a great choice. But an even better option, of course, is to pull out a guitar, washboard or acoustic musical instrument of your choice and hold a good old-fashioned sing-along with friends.

• Celebrate with the city (or town): If you live in a major centre, chances are there's a big event happening to mark the night. Some of these are a little questionable -- Vasil says Toronto's Nathan Phillips Square event will use electricity to power a massive speaker system during its event, but there's something special about joining forces with hundreds of people for a cause you believe in.

• Go for a walk! Take a lantern, bundle up and take a stroll with friends and loved ones. If enough people participate, and urban light pollution takes the hit organizers hope it will, you might actually be able to see the stars in cities like Toronto.

"It's a great time to explore the city when the lights are off or dim," Vasil says. "You get a whole new perspective on your town and it starts to feel like you're a bit more in the country -- because you can actually see the stars if people participate as much as they say they will."